Fire investigators have said the Fishponds blaze, which killed one man and left a woman with serious injuries, was started accidentally.

Firefighters tackled the blaze at a flat on Fishponds Road on Saturday, August 5, at around 8.45pm. The couple caught in the blaze have been named locally as Owen Westcott and his wife Deborah Westcott.

A statement released by the service stated: “Multiple crews were called to a fire involving a terraced property in Fishponds, where the ground floor is used as a restaurant and shop and the first floor residential flats.

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“If you have any concerns about fire safety in your home, you can request a free home fire safety visit by visiting here or calling 0117 926 2061.”

The deadly fire saw heroic onlookers – including a cyclist and a regular of the nearby Golden Lion pub – run through the flames and attempt to save the woman’s life and pull her from the home.

However, the men were just two of several people who came to the aid of the couple on Saturday night when the fire broke out as many members of the public joined in the effort.

(Image: Chris Stubbs @StubbzZzy)

The fire started in the flat about Dayzeeks English and Jamaican Cuisine and took around 55 firefighters and eight fire engines several hours to extinguish the flames.

Police had confirmed they were not treating the death of the man, locally named as Owen Westcott, as suspicious. Forensic teams have been at the scene as the woman is understood to remain in hospital with life-threatening burns.

John Patterson-Bearpark, who lives in the house directly behind the flat on Lower Station Road allowed the fire brigade access through his house to the alleyway that runs between his garden and the Westcotts' garden.

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He said: "He was a lovely guy. I used to drink with him in the Farriers Arms. I used to see him in Morrisons from time to time, he had a mobility car because he had a bad back, which meant he didn’t get out much."

The scene of the house fire on Fishponds Road (Image: SWNS)

"A nurse who lives down the road was out the back when Deborah was brought out and she tried calming her down because she was in a bad way and in a lot of pain and distress," said Mr Patterson-Bearpark.

"Your whole life is changed after something like that. Hopefully, god willing, she will survive."